Reconstruction and Prosperity• The world experienced a short

recession immediately following World War I

• The later 1920’s were generally a period of global prosperity

Ford Model T

Put the entire

world on wheels

Causes of The Great Depression• Overproduction

--more products available than people can purchase

• Speculation

-- borrow money to invest and make quick profit

• Lead to the Stock Market Crash of 1929

Depression—an economic downturn in which large numbers of businesses fail and workers are unemployed

The Great Depression• The interrelationship of loans and debts

helped the depression spread from the U.S. to Europe then to the rest of the world

• Most leaders reacted poorly (stopped spending, cut off trade, and tightened credit)

• Franklin Roosevelt (US)—used New Deal to put people to work on public works projects

German Breadlines Japanese children eating radish roots during famine

Fascism• A political ideology that developed after

World War I• Fascists believe in:• extreme nationalism (nation superiority)

-unite all social classes (strong over weak)• glorified violence and racism(defeat

opponents and expand country)• opposed socialism and democracy• Blind obedience to a strong (all powerful)

leader who expressed the national will

The Rise of Fascism• In Italy, Benito Mussolini, comes to power

creating a totalitarian state in 1922

Totalitarianism—dictator or political party controls all aspects of life

The Rise of Fascism• In Germany, Adolf Hitler,

becomes leader of fascist party known as the Nazi’s

Wrote Mein Kampf stated: Germans were superior race and Jews were the major cause of Germany’s problems

The Nazi Rise of Dictatorship In Germany• In Germany, millions of workers lost their jobs in

the Great Depression• German people (all classes) turn turned to the

Nazi Party to helpElection date Votes in

millionsShare

May 20, 1928 0.81 2.6%

September 14, 1930 6.41 18.3%

July 31, 1932 13.75 37.3%

November 6, 1932 11.74 33.1%

March 5, 1933 17.28 43.9%

The Nazi Rise of Dictatorship In GermanyHitler’s uses Nazi message of:

*weak Weimar republic

*harsh Versailles Treaty

Lost—but not forgotten country.

Into the heartYou are to dig yourself these words as into stone: Which we have lost may not be truly lost!

The Nazi Rise of Dictatorship In Germany

*anti-communism

*anti-Semitism

*blaming Jews for defeat in WWI

--In 1933, Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany

Nazism (National Socialism)• In 1933 Hitler and Nazi Party:

-eliminate all political rivals

-restricts Jews in business and education

-begin a massive rebuilding of the military

-public projects to stimulate the economy

-used terror with Gestapo (secret police)

-Build concentration camps

The Origins of World War II

The War in Europe

The War in Asia

The Global Impact of World War II